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Padres prospect Fried set for Tommy John surgery

2014 MLB.com Top Prospects: Max Fried has the makings of a very good three-pitch mix, all issued with a clean delivery

By Alex Halsted
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MLB.com |

ST. LOUIS -- Padres prospect Max Fried suffered a setback Friday with news that the left-hander will need Tommy John surgery.

Fried, the Padres' top selection in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, missed the first three months this season with left forearm soreness before eventually making five starts between Rookie ball and Class A. He last pitched July 21 before being sidelined again with what was called elbow soreness.

Ranked as the organization's No. 2 prospect by MLB.com, Fried will now undergo UCL reconstruction surgery next Wednesday -- termed Tommy John surgery -- and will likely miss the entire 2015 season.

"Any time a young pitcher anywhere, regardless of what organization he's in, a guy just getting started, especially [high school guy out of the] Draft, that's tough," Padres manager Bud Black said. "The way the surgeons are in today's day and age, and the success rate of Tommy John, we have to hope for the best in the future with Max and hope that he's one of those many pitchers that comes back from Tommy John and resumes his career and pitches to the potential that all our scouts believe he can pitch to."

Fried, 20, posted a 3.61 ERA in 38 appearance (37 starts) over 147 innings during his first action in professional baseball.

Alex Halsted is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.